Beautiful on the inside too!

Monica, the beautiful, is attending a new school this year. We thought it would be a better fit for her and a fresh start. Monica is in the fourth grade and really loves her new teacher.

This afternoon, after school, Monica was talking with the teacher of the other fourth grade class because she has a very special student in her room. Monica told her, "If you need any help with your very special student this year, you could let me know."

"Oh really?" the teacher replied.

"Yes, I know what she likes. She needs someone to talk to her, read to her, and touch her. She would really love it."

The teacher said, "You know what? You're right. She does love all of those things."

To which Monica replied, "she's like my sister."

What a great gift she has to be able to see the needs of others.

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Counting the days!

11 days from today, my girl will be a fourth grader! Where has all the time gone? I thought the last day of school was yesterday!

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Happy Birthday, Monica!

Last year, her birthday was on the Friday Field day at school and she had strawberry ice cream for breakfast. This year, we are going out to breakfast, taking her to a couple of shops to pick her presents out, and just relaxing.

Monica is 9 years old today!


This picture is from her 4th birthday! She is growing and changing so much. She has been through a lot this year and in her little life. And, for the most part, is a very joyful and loving kid. I love you, Girlie!

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Isn't She Lovely?

At first, Monica was embarrassed when she found out I used her picture with my doll carriers.


The second time she modeled for me, she knew what it was for and wanted to see herself on my website.


Today, she basked in the glow of the sunlight and gave me some fun poses.





And, no, the doll never fell out! I know, A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.


To think that there has only been about a year and a half since the first photo is almost unbelievable. She has changed so much!

P.S. Wow, I took these myself. All I did was move the photo session outside!
Oh yeah, I forgot. I have to pay her now too!
It cost a new pair of sunglasses!
This post was inspired by:

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I did what you told me, Mom!

She said it with a straight face just like this.


And then she added, "It's just that today is opposite day and you forgot when you gave me the instructions!"



I said to her, "Oh, my bad!" Luckily, it wasn't about anything important.

Do you remember the phases you went through as a child before or after your child brings it to you like it's a brand new thing?

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Monica and I

We can't wait to do more things like this soon!


Summer is almost here and we are just chomping at the bit to get out this year!

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Monica

...the beautiful!

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My girls

...loving each other. (Pooh was just wishing he could be in the action.)

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Familymoon - Beach Love

We spent a week of our "familymoon" at a hotel on the "Gulf side" beach. I was working on a sandcastle our last beach day when Monica came to me and said, "Look what I made, Mom!"



I expected to see that she had finished a nice mold and looked up. "Where is it?" I asked, looking around for the molded sand she'd created. "No, you have to come over here." She said. This is what she made.



I told her I wanted to take a picture of her "creation," her declaration of love towards her sister. She said, "Wait! I want people to know I wrote it."



But, I couldn't fit it all in one frame.



God knew I wanted to write about Megan in the sand but was too scared to ruin the wonderful time everyone was having at the beach. I gave Monica the biggest hug I could right at that very second. She wrote it for me.

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Nightly Prayers

Every night I pray with my girls before bedtime. I sit by their bed, rub their foreheads with my hands, tell them I love them, and say our prayers.

Every night I would pray the exact same words for Megan.

"Thank you, Jesus, for my Megan.
Give her a good night's sleep and protect her tonight.
Help her to not be afraid
And to always know that You are with her.
In Your Name, Amen."

I was always afraid that Megan would need something and not be able to tell me about it or that she would be afraid and I wouldn't know it.

Monica's prayer was:

"Now I lay me down to sleep.
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
Let angels watch me through the night.
Until I wake with morning light."
(And then she could add anything else on her mind too)

Last night Monica and I were praying and Megan's prayer came to my head as it has almost every night since she's been gone. Monica and I prayed:

"Thank you, Jesus, for today.
Give us a good night's sleep and protect us tonight.
Help us to not be afraid
And to always know that You are with us.
And give Meggie a kiss for us too.
In Your Name, Amen."

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New Nurse

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The first day of third grade!

It's hard to believe that today is the first day of third grade for my little girl. Summer was definitely too short. Nevertheless, we press on. Here she is in her ready for school outfit and shoes.

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Shhh Secret Supermodel in the making..

OK! Show me your style.


Show me serious.


Show me fun and whimsical.


Work it girl!


Other portfolio appearances:

Dolly Outfitters Home Page
Doll Carriers Page

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Fri-Day of Firsts!

This is yesterday's post that didn't happen. (Sorry)

To start, "Fri-day" was Megan's first day home from the hospital. She slept in her spot on the couch most of the day - enough that I wondered if she would sleep at all last night. However, she did and was awake most of the day today.

Next, remember this post? Well, if you think about it (if you like math at all), you might figure that Fri-day was also the first day Monica could do this:


She wanted to wear these "dangling diamond earrings" (cough. cough.)


What she doesn't know can't hurt her at this point, right? We decided that these earrings could only be worn on special occasions (The first change is definitely a special occasion) and not to bed. So, just before bed, we changed to these, less dangly ones:


They were the reason she went through with the piercing anyway. That's right! These earrings are "Hannah" style. (And, not available as magnets or clip-ons.) All Hannah's accessories feature guitars - although Monica is wearing pink in this picture, the earrings also came in blue and yellow. WOW!

Now, if you'll excuse us, it's time to change to the blue ones.

I am sooo starting to love being the mother of a growing girly girl.

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Monica's Special Trip

Monica got her kitty face painting at school earlier in the day because it was field day and they played outside and got to do many different activities. For our special trip, we went to a jewelry store in the mall and we picked out the new special jewelry Monica wanted to wear. We spoke specifically with Whitney, the store clerk, about our new jewelry and how to take care of it once we made our purchase. Then, Monica still decided it would be OK to go through with the purchase.

She sat on Memaw's lap in the big special chair with her Hannah Montana Build-a-Bear.


Grandma was there too and gave her a hug.


Then, she hugged Memaw again.


Then, she hugged her bear really tight.


Then, they group hugged.


Then, Whitney clipped Monica's hair back.


Then, she cleaned Monica's ears.


Then, she marked the dots on Monica's ears. Aunt Lisa and I both made sure they were even.


Then, the jewelry was placed in the "kitty" ear first.


Then, the jewelry was placed in the other ear.


The final result of the second ear.


The final result of the "kitty" ear.


Finally, Monica got to look and see how much more beautiful she had become with her new jewelry.


The pictures are not very clear. However, the jewelry we picked out was a pair of 18 carat gold, pink, 5-petaled, flower earrings. They sparkled in my princess' ears. She was so delighted and even said, "It wasn't that bad."

Not that bad? My little girl, who screams bloody murder at the thought of anything that might hurt (splinter removals, anything requiring a band-aid and ointment, especially shots, you get the idea), GOT HER EARS PIERCED!! so bravely without shedding a tear or even wincing.

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